Bonuses for Having and Raising Healthy Children

The next day, crowds thronged Liyue Harbor.

"Rex Lapis, Lin Yi, said he had something big to announce today. Why isn't he here yet?"

"Hey, I heard it's good news about improving our livelihoods!"

"Quiet, everyone! Lord Lin Yi, the Geo Archon, and Ningguang, the Tianquan, have arrived!"

As the two people who currently held the greatest authority in Liyue arrived, a deafening roar erupted throughout the harbor.

Even the tranquil surface of the Sea of Clouds surged, carrying that happiness and joy to the creatures underwater.

Liyue's citizens had packed the merchant ships passing through the harbor, their decks, and the waterfront.

Every year, their god would stay only briefly after descending, leaving once he had set the course for Liyue's development in the coming year.

But now, Lin Yi, the new Geo Archon, would not return to the heavens after descending. Naturally, people were intensely curious and wanted to see what sort of future their new god would lead them toward.

The previous night had brought light rain and gusting winds, but none of the downpour Lin Yi had spoken of.

Amid the misty drizzle, Ningguang had invited Lin Yi to drink and chat in a small pavilion at the Jade Chamber.

"I heard from Ganyu that you're going to introduce a new population policy?"

Lin Yi did not answer immediately. He quietly watched Ningguang stretch her graceful figure. Her full curves and stunning face, beautiful even without heavy makeup, held his gaze and stirred thoughts in his mind.

Ningguang noticed Lin Yi's scorching gaze resting on her.

Despite herself, she felt a little nervous.

When it came to romance, she was as inexperienced as a blank sheet of paper. She simply hid it well.

"A lovely evening, beautiful scenery, and a beautiful woman-these are life's true pleasures."

"And when that beauty is my wife, it is the joy of family."

Poetic lines flowed endlessly from Lin Yi's lips, each one a compliment.

Although Ningguang had seen every trick her former suitors had tried, none had touched her quite like this.

She lifted her wine cup with a slender hand and drained it, hiding the smile she could barely contain.

Their conversation returned to business.

"I wasn't planning to keep the new population policy from you. But these past two days, I've been running between law offices and investigations, so I haven't had time to tell you about it."

"Oh? Quite the busy man, aren't you?"

Ningguang was not particularly passionate about fine food.

Yet a careful observer would notice that the dishes she favored had all been placed beside Lin Yi.

"Next, we'll lift the one-child restriction and gradually allow families to have a second and third child. Families that have and raise healthy children will receive five thousand Mora, while families that give birth to and raise children capable of wielding a Vision will receive a hundred thousand Mora."

Ningguang had expected Lin Yi to propose ideas ahead of their time.

She had more or less grown used to it, and had even begun to be influenced by him.

In her commercial battles against her rivals, she had become less cautious, taking the offensive with forward-thinking methods and strategies.

Seeing that she now had the leisure to spend time with him, she had clearly won.

"Increasing the population was something I once considered as well. But you should know what conditions in Liyue are like."

Although Liyue occupied a vast area, greater even than Mondstadt and Inazuma combined,

usable land accounted for only twenty percent of its total territory.

Most of the rest contained either the lairs of demon gods or tribal settlements of Hilichurls and similar creatures.

The available land was scattered, making it difficult to build large industrial facilities and residential areas.

A hint of melancholy entered Ningguang's lovely eyes. Slightly tipsy, she lifted her beautiful legs, which reflected a captivating glow beneath the moonlight, almost like jade.

Lin Yi swallowed and circulated his elemental power to suppress the lust stirring within him.

Ningguang seemed to be doing it deliberately. Seeing him squirm in his seat, she curled her red lips upward.

"Population and land are inseparable considerations. Of course I wouldn't address one and neglect the other. Alongside revising the childbirth legislation, I'm going to undertake an enormous project."

"What?"

"Land reclamation!"

The name spoke for itself. After taking a moment to grasp it, Ningguang's eyes filled with shock.

After a tipsy, restless night, Ningguang woke that morning feeling exhausted all over. There was even a faint red mark on her collarbone, as though something had sucked on it.

Her skin did seem firmer and fuller than before, though she had not changed her jade skin cream in years and was still using her usual kind.

Her head throbbed slightly. She vaguely remembered drinking her fill with Lin Yi the night before. It had been a long time since she had relaxed like that, so she had been a little late getting up.

As for what had happened after she got drunk, Ningguang could not remember. The way her body felt told her that last night had probably been a "peaceful night."

Onstage, Ningguang was not in the best shape. She kept her remarks brief and left all the talking to Lin Yi.

The adepti and the Liyue Qixing had all come to show their support as well. Old Master Zhong was also nearby at Tian Tie Zui's storytelling stall, sipping tea as he watched the proceedings.

Lin Yi cleared his throat. Although the Fatui had already taken the Gnosis, the Geo Archon's authority had entered his body.

It did little to increase his strength, but it was more than enough to let every citizen hear him speak at a public gathering.

"I'm not one for wasting words. There are just two things today!"

"First, the Land Reclamation Project will begin soon."

"And second, I have good news that concerns every person from Liyue here!"

At that point, Lin Yi kept them in suspense for a moment, steadily building their interest.

"Ahem. I hereby announce an amendment to Article 100 of the Liyue Population Act. The restriction limiting families to having and raising one child will be abolished, and second and third children will gradually be permitted. Families that have and raise healthy children, as well as those that bear and nurture talented children, will receive subsidies and bonuses at various levels!"

"That concludes the announcement. The policy takes effect today! Those with families can have children without the pressure, and those without partners had better get moving!"

After Lin Yi finished, the crowd fell briefly silent-eerily silent.

Then, just as Lin Yi thoughtfully covered Ningguang's ears,

the people of Liyue erupted upon hearing the new policy!

Having children was not only a great national undertaking, but also an unavoidable hurdle for families.

In Liyue, where the belief in carrying on the family line ran deep, how many families dreamed of having children-and more than just one?

Under the old policy and circumstances, having just one child had indeed placed little strain on a family.

Allowing second and third children could even raise the ceiling of the economy that supported people's livelihoods. After all, wouldn't new pressures create greater motivation?

Discussion immediately swept through the crowd. Next came the process of letting the people digest the news; changes in childbearing could not be accomplished overnight.

Now was precisely the right time to expand the land area, which would also lay a solid foundation for future intercity expressways.

"Looks like it's time for the Lottery System to do its part."

Lin Yi had been stockpiling the system's rewards for a long time.

When he had woken up that morning, he had even inexplicably unlocked a new intimacy reward: two Intertwined Fates and a Sword Billet.